Author: rugby843

I am a widow since 2013 and live by myself in a small apartment. I use a wheelchair to get around, but I wouldn't consider myself disabled. I'm 11 years away from having bladder cancer resulting in a urostomy and I'm doing well. This cancer was a result of having radiation in 1995 because of uterine cancer. So have faith in yourself, a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. My first try at blogging was an attempt to help other people with my condition. I am a mother of three married children, and a grandmother to eight gorgeous kids, featuring them often here, and a great grandmother to two as of today, 6/7/25! I enjoy exploring my feelings and like to try the challenges. I like humor, music, movies, games, and some sports. I absolutely appreciate your reading and commenting on my blog. I am happy to read all of your blogs and learn more about you. Please comment however you like, ask whatever, and I'll answer honestly. Thanks for reading! Cheryl

Sijo Wednesday

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

being thankful doesn’t take time, only the will to do it

gathering during the holiday season, is the perfect time

busy years pass too quickly, take the offered opportunity

*** Thank you to ronovanwrites.com for providing prompts for us!

http://ronovanwrites.com/2022/11/23/ronovan-writes-sijo-wednesday-poetry-challenge-37-use-thankful-as-your-inspiration-this-week/

2022 November PAD Chapbook Challenge 23

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

Prompt: write a family poem

Family is a microcosm on earth

Everyone a little different

Fitting into a smaller crowded space

Love, caring, jealousy, sorrow, repression, oppression, all exist in a small way

Feelings held to save feelings, but felt all the same

Happy families can conquer all with a generous helping of love and acceptance.

***

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2022-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-23

InLaws

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
“I don’t want to go, it’s our anniversary!”
“We go every year, it’s a thing!”
“I know, and every year we get sent to the horrid bed in the basement to sleep and I have to spend all night clinging to the side not to fall into the hole in the middle of the mattress. It’s a fate worse than death!”
“It’s not that bad, I sleep well…”.
“Of course you do, you get horizontal and you’re instantly snoring. This is our 15th anniversary, can’t we skip old home week even once?”
“I’ve already said we’re coming, as usual.”
It was hopeless every year because their wedding anniversary coincided with a hometown celebration. That wasn’t the worst part, the mother in-law was standoffish, kept strict rules, like what could be cooked in which saucepan etc.; it was a nightmare every visit. She couldn’t even set the table right according to her mil. And so it was.

***

https://athling2001.wordpress.com/2022/11/21/jsw-prompt-11-21-2021/

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

Where had he put it?
Was he reading the news?
He couldn’t find it, his missing muse.
It was tragic, the poor writer was frozen in time He’d been sitting there dead, since ‘99!
No one had found him,
he always kept to himself,
a writer ‘s dilemma, never thinking of self.
It was only the story, only the words,
but now looking at him
I think that absurd.
He wasted away,
always alone
with his stale cup of coffee
amid papers and bones.

***

http://fivedotoh.com/2022/11/21/fandangos-flash-fiction-challenge-194/

Fandango’s Story Starter

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

You Reap What You Stole

This week’s Story Starter teaser is: KAREN WENT BALLISTIC WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT HER HUSBAND, KENNETH, HAD GAMBLED AWAY THEIR ENTIRE LIFE’S SAVINGS. Karen was flabbergasted. She knew he had taken a business trip to Las Vegas, but didn’t know he was a secretive gambling addict. He had played a weekly game of poker with the “boys” but all the neighborhood husbands did.

Karen grabbed the car keys and drove to the bank, where she found a mere $23.00 in their account. The savings account was showing zero. She promptly fainted right there in front of the teller’s window. A lawyer rushed over because he was also one of the neighborhood husbands and knew her personally. As Karen regained consciousness, she uttered to him, “I want a divorce and I want it now!”

***

http://fivedotoh.com/2022/11/22/fandangos-story-starter-73/

dVerse Poets Haibun Monday

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

For today’s inspiration, we will focus on Autumn’s voice (aki no koe), such as rustling leaves, a late emerging cicada, crickets, an unexpected breeze, a crow’s call, etc.

Leafy Plea

The beauty of autumn is in the leaves, and as they give their way to bare snow covered branches, we still hear them protest as they die.

crunching underfoot

sad sounds emit from crisp leaves

don’t rest me in bags

***

http://dversepoets.com/2022/11/21/haibun-monday-aki-no-koe-autumns-voice/